SPRINGFIELD - Children playing with a cigarette lighter were determined to have caused a Tuesday morning fire that destroyed a three-family home on Worthington Street and left 15 people in need of somewhere to stay, a Springfield fire official said.

No injuries were reported, but the house was considered a complete loss, said Dept. Chief Glenn Guyer.

Heat from the fire also melted the vinyl siding of the home next door at 879 Worthington St., causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The fire, reported at about 10 a.m., quickly spread throughout the building from the second floor into the third floor, attic and roof. Several times the fire appeared to be out only to erupt once again.

"There are a lot of places it (the fire) can hide in there," Guyer said.

It took firefighters about 3 1/2 hours to bring the fire under control, he said.

Investigators with the Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad determined the fire was started accidentally by children playing with cigarette lighters. Children lived on all three floors of the house. He declined to say where in the house the fire started in order not to identify the children.

The Pioneer Valley chapter of the American Red Cross was called to the scene to aid those displaced.

Springfield firefighters initially entered the building in an attempt to fight the fire, but as it continued the spread, the alarm sounded after about 10 minutes for everyone to get out.

After that, firefighters concentrated on attacking the fire from the outside by blasting the building with hose on the ground and from aerial platforms.

A heavy smoke, visible for miles away, poured from the building.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, two troopers and two Springfield police officers were among the first on the scene after the initial call was broadcast.

Springfield police Sgt. Devon Williams and officer John Torres and Troopers Samuel Winston and Jon Blanchard entered the burning house and cleared all three floors to make sure that no one was still inside, according to the state police.

When they saw vinyl siding on the house next door melting, they decided it should be evaluated too, state police said. They assisted a woman and her two children of the building, state police said.

Ronald Turner, a second-floor resident, said he was not a home when the fire started. He said his step daughter called him to say their home was burning down.

He said that while he was relieved no one from his family was injured, his immediate thoughts are where they are going to stay.

He and his wife, his step daughter and his six grandchildren have lived there for about 14 months.

Standing across the street as firefighters continued soaking the building with water, Turner said "I don't know where we're going yet. The Red Cross will have to help."

Turner said he was told the fire started on the second floor but he had no idea how. He said that on Monday night his wife kept saying she smelled smoke.

"I didn't see anything and I didn't smell anything. So we went to bed," he said. "I'm just glad it started in the morning instead of in the middle of the night."

Third-floor resident Luis Sanchez said he was at work in Enfield when his wife called to say their home was burning. He got time off work and rushed back home to find his wife, and their two young children huddled in the back of a state police cruiser for warmth.

"I'm waiting to hear from the landlord to see if he going to put us up somewhere," he said.

All of their possessions were likely lost in the fire, he said.''

The three-family home, constructed in 1899, has a valuation of $107,000, according to City of Springfield records. It is owned by David Elias of Hartford.

It took until about 1:30 p.m. before the fire was fully extinguished. Worthington Street was closed to all traffic between Federal and Spring streets. The road remained closed well into the afternoon as firefighters removed their equipment.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/environmental_news_links_date.html
Lu Feorino | lfeorino@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/environmental_news_links_date.html@homepagecaliforniacalifornia-droughtclimate-changeenvironmentenvironment-news-linksenvironmental-news-linksglobal-warminggray-wolfmichiganpollutionrefinerieswolfwolvesTue, 03 Mar 2015 19:45:00 UTC2015-03-03T19:46:05ZNO VALUELu Feorino | lfeorino@repub.comIn this January 2015 photo, a ski lift sits idle at the Donner Ski Ranch in Norden, Calif. The ranch is one of several ski resorts that have either suspended operations or cut back on the number of lifts operating due to the state's historic drought, now linked to human behavior, according to a recent study.
The town's last parking ban was in place for 17 days, from Feb. 8 to Feb. 25, as crews cleared snow from a series of major storms.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - As another round of winter weather makes its way into the Pioneer Valley, the town has banned on-street parking until further notice.

The town's last parking ban was in place for more than two weeks, from Feb. 8 to Feb. 25, as crews cleared snow from a series of major storms.

Tuesday's forecast from CBS 3 Springfield, media partner of The Republican/MassLive.com, calls for "a quick couple of inches of snow and sleet ... before a transition to rain and freezing rain." Precipitation is expected to start at around 6 p.m.

AMHERST - Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi who co-founded #BlackLivesMatter will speak at Hampshire College March 30 at the 17th annual Eqbal Ahmad Lecture.

In a posting on Feministwire.com, Garza explained how she created #BlackLivesMatter with Cullors and Tometi, "as a call to action for Black people after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was post-humously placed on trial for his own murder and the killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable for the crime he committed.

"It was a response to the anti-Black racism that permeates our society and also, unfortunately, our movements."

She is a special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Cullors is the founder and executive director of Los Angeles-based Dignity and Power Now, dedicated to protecting incarcerated people and their families.

Tometi is executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration), which educates and advocates for immigrant rights and racial justice with African-American, Afro-Latino, African, and Caribbean immigrant communities, according to a press release.

The Eqbal Ahmad Lecture honors the teaching, scholarship, and activism of the late Eqbal Ahmad, who was a longtime Hampshire College professor.

Others who have spoken include writer Arundhati Roy, former secretary general of the United Nations Kofi Annan and journalist Seymour Hersh.

The lecture, which will be given at 4 p.m., is part of the 12th Annual Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge for Social Justice program.

The organization is urging participants to recognize and counteract the ways in which they contribute to anti-Black racism, according to the press release. A schedule of events will be posted later this month. All events are open to the public.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/co-founders_of_blacklivesmatte.html
Diane Lederman | dlederman@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/co-founders_of_blacklivesmatte.html#black-lives-matter@homepageamhersthampshire-collegeTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:57:47 UTC2015-03-03T19:15:38ZNO VALUEDiane Lederman | dlederman@repub.comDemonstrators in the Black and Brown Lives Matter March, including Chris Tinson, protesting grand jury decisions in the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, march on High Street in Holyoke in December. The co-founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement will speak at Hampshire College March 30.
The Council at its meeting will take up a proposed ordinance that would allow condominium associations to submit to the city documentation defining the percentage each member owns of the development.

NORTHAMPTON - Condominium owners who feel they are paying more than their share of the new stormwater bill could get some respite Thursday from the City Council.

The Council at its meeting will take up a proposed ordinance that would allow condominium associations to submit to the city documentation defining the percentage each member owns of the development. Currently, bills to condo associations are simply divided equally among all unit owners, even if the association does not otherwise divide costs that way. Ward 3 Councilor Ryan O'Donnell is among those who have fielded questions about the city's billing practice.

Under the proposed ordinance, the Department of Public Works would bill each condo owner according to the percentage their own of the complex, a process O'Donnell said is fairer.

Hopefully this solves the problem I have been hearing from people," he said is a press release Tuesday.

The stormwater bill was devised last year by the Board of Public Works to pay for the increasing cost of disposing stormwater and for repairs to the antiquated system. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the federal government has imposed new standards on the quality of run-off from rain and other precipitation as well as on flood-control. An assessment of the city's stormwater system recommended that Northampton spend $100 million to upgrade it. The Board of Public Works, which has since been downgraded to an advisory board, took a more cautious approach, opting to repair and replace segments as needed.

This is a small change that would make things a little fairer for a significant number of city residents. Ultimately larger changes may be needed, though, because unfortunately, some inequity was built into the system when it passed last year...

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/city_council_to_consider_ordin.html
Fred Contrada | fcontrada@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/city_council_to_consider_ordin.html@homepagenorthamptonnorthampton-dpwnorthamtpon-city-councilTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:56:00 UTC2015-03-03T18:56:40ZNO VALUEFred Contrada | fcontrada@repub.comNorthampton City Councilor Ryan O'Donnell
The president of the city teacher's union responded to critiques made by state education officials with a simple message: "We all want the same thing, we want success for Holyoke."

HOLYOKE -- The president of the city teacher's union responded to critiques made by state education officials with a simple message: "We all want the same thing, we want success for Holyoke."

Agustin Morales, the president of the Holyoke Teachers Association, addressed the recent review of city schools by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at a Holyoke School Committee meeting on Monday.

The concerns, documented in the 65-page review of city schools, range from testing in the district to the relationship between the Holyoke Teachers Association and the superintendent's office.

The report said city schools need the district and HTA to develop and maintain a "more productive and appropriately collaborative partnership."

Morales said he received emails from teachers who read the report and felt it presented the union and teachers as separate entities.

"There is no separation between the teachers and their union, they're one and the same," he said. "The teachers are the ones that make up the union, I'm just the president. To delineate or to intend to do so in that report somehow that the teacher's leadership and the teachers themselves are two different organizations is just wrong."

Morales said while he and Superintendent of Schools Sergio Paez disagree on many things - most notably state testing - they're both on the same team when it comes to maintaining local control of Holyoke Public Schools.

More than 100 people were in attendance at the Holyoke School Committee meeting on Monday. Morales criticized some local education officials for not attending, specifically those from Project GRAD USA.

"I didn't see anybody from Project Grad here," he said. "I find it very troubling that this organization that could potentially be a part of the receivership - who knows, we don't know much - but they're not even present to talk to the state, to talk to the school committee, to talk to me, to talk to Dr. Paez. They're not here to talk to anybody. It's almost like they're above the law and I find that to be so reprehensible in this stage that we find ourselves in with the possibility of a state takeover."

Dean Vocational Technical High School, a Level 4 school, was ordered in 2010 by the state to be put under control of a manager. The control was shifted to Project GRAD more than a year ago. The non-profit was also given control of Morgan School last year when the elementary school was placed in receivership.

Morales spoke against another school in the district being placed in receivership.

"Instead of giving money to outside entities, the suggestion I would say is invest in us," he said. "What we need more than anything else is resources."

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/holyoke_teachers_association_p.html
Michelle Williams | Michelle.Williams@MassLive.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/holyoke_teachers_association_p.htmlEducation@homepageagustin-moralesgus-moralesholyokeholyoke-public-schoolsholyoke-school-committeeholyoke-schoolsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:54:55 UTC2015-03-03T18:55:12ZNO VALUEMichelle Williams | Michelle.Williams@MassLive.comAgustin Morales, president of the Holyoke Teachers Association, at a School Committee meeting June 23.
At right are the five most current stories regarding the MGM Springfield casino. Below is a snapshot of some of the casino-related stories making headlines across the United States and beyond.

At right are the five most current stories regarding the MGM Springfield casino. Below is a snapshot of some of the casino-related stories making headlines across the United States and beyond.

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http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/casino_news_roundup_macau_gami.html
Robert Rizzuto | rrizzuto@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/casino_news_roundup_macau_gami.htmlBreaking NewsBusinessCasinos@homepage@link-news-republican@link-politics-republican@mobilecasinosnews-linksTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:45:39 UTC2015-03-03T18:45:56ZNO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskMGM won a competition with Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing for a Maryland casino license in late 2013. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskThe casino's design, as seen from the beltway, is influenced by the natural topography of the Maryland site, the nature of nearby national monuments and their interactions with residents and visitors in the travel corridor. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's pitch to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskMGM National Harbor's siting and internal organization take inspiration from Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1791 plan for the then brand-new city of Washington, D.C. This influence is most readily seen in the form of the equatorial skylight that runs the length of the roof between the outdoor terrace and the hotel tower and conservatory. During the day, this feature allows refreshing natural light to filter into the resort below; at night, interior illumination spills out, allowing the edges of the roof to dramatically glow. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskThe resort design operates at multiple scales, and is most evident at the guest's arrival point. Like chapters in a novel, each destination within the resort - from a star chef's restaurant to the rejuvenating spa to the high-end retail - is designed to provide a sense of discovery, elegance, and timelessness. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskAnchoring one end of the National Harbor mixed-use development, the resort is set on a pedestal, designed to evoke the plinth of a grand monument. Terraced into the landscape to incorporate a ninety-foot elevation change, it aims to create a sense of respectful monumentality. The pedestal serves a dual purpose as it incorporates and conceals a seven-story parking garage. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's pitch to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's plan to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's pitch to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. The proposed site for the MGM resort at National Harbor will be located on the Beltway Parcel at National Harbor, accessible from I-495, I-95, I-295 and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, along with several other transportation options including Metrobus, shuttle service and water taxi. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's pitch to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. The proposed site for the MGM resort at National Harbor will be located on the Beltway Parcel at National Harbor, accessible from I-495, I-95, I-295 and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, along with several other transportation options including Metrobus, shuttle service and water taxi. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)NO VALUEThe Republican Photo DeskA look at MGM Resorts International's pitch to develop an $925 million resort casino on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. The proposed site for the MGM resort at National Harbor will be located on the Beltway Parcel at National Harbor, accessible from I-495, I-95, I-295 and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, along with several other transportation options including Metrobus, shuttle service and water taxi. (Renderings courtesy of MGM)
A spokesman for Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos issued a press release stating the city would not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

SPRINGFIELD — A Holyoke woman has filed a federal lawsuit against eight Chicopee police officers and the city in connection with an alleged 2013 beating during the plaintiff's arrest.

The plaintiff, Maylene Maldonado, is suing for $1 million, according to court records. She has leveled 16 allegations including assault and battery, civil rights violations, failure to intervene by some of the officers, and the city's alleged failure to properly train officers.

Chicopee Police Sgt. Daniel Major was charged with assault and battery on Maldonado in Chicopee District Court in November of 2013. Major had been previously exonerated by an internal investigation during which his fellow officers argued he had "acted admirably," according to the complaint. However, District Court Judge Maureen E. Walsh reviewed a videotape of the incident 30 times and ruled Major could be charged criminally.

Major argued he was acting in self-defense when he forced Maldonado to the floor by her throat, and said she was high on PCP and spitting blood. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The federal lawsuit states that the entire incident began when Maldonado's friend's car got stuck in a snow bank outside the Econo Lodge in Chicopee on Feb. 17, 2013. Police had been dispatched there after a 911 call about a man wandering around incoherently, carrying a knife, according to the complaint.

Police spotted Maldonado running toward a nearby gas station and went to check on her. She conceded she had been drinking and smoking PCP, and a confrontation ensued over police taking her license. That culminated with her slapping Officer John Birks across the face, according to the complaint. She then apologized.

Maldonado was arrested and taken to the police station for booking. There, Birks and another officer, Ryan Moran, waited to get the plaintiff into the elevator and smashed her face into the wall, the complaint states.

While in the booking area, Maldonado argues, she complained that her head, mouth and lip piercing hurt. She said police responded by telling her: "If you don't cooperate, bad things are going to happen."

She continued to complain of her injuries, the complaint states, until Major and others forced her to the ground.

"At this point, Defendant Major abruptly applied a chokehold to Plaintiff's neck and yelled: 'Shut the f*** up," the lawsuit reads, adding that a group of other officers stood by and watched.

Maldonado argues she never received medical treatment for her alleged injuries. She was later charged with assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

A spokesman for Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos issued a press release, stating the city would not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

"Mayor Kos indicated that he has consulted with Attorney Thomas Rooke who is reviewing the allegations contained in the complaint and the City would not be in a position to comment further on pending litigation," the statement reads.

Maldonado's lawyer, James Goodhines, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday. A pretrial hearing in U.S. District Court in Springfield has not yet been set in the case.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/holyoke_woman_sues_chicopee_police.html
Stephanie Barry | sbarry@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/holyoke_woman_sues_chicopee_police.htmlTop Stories@homepagechicopeechicopee-policecivil-rightsdaniel-majorfederal-lawsuitmaylene-maldonadospringfieldviolationsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:32:39 UTC2015-03-03T19:16:10ZNO VALUEThe Republican Newsroom
In this video, you can see flames shooting through the windows of the upper floor and firefighters working hard to keep them contained and put them out.
Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - A house fire displaced 15 people on Tuesday morning, including a mother and two young children.

The fire at 873 Worthington St. started at around 10 a.m. and sent billowing clouds of smoke into the air that were visible from blocks away. It also melted the siding on the house next door.

In this video, you can see flames shooting through the windows of the upper floor and firefighters working hard to keep them contained and put them out.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/video_springfield_house_fire_d.html
Brian Steele | bsteele@masslive.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/video_springfield_house_fire_d.htmlFiresTop Stories@homepage@mobile@springfieldfirehouse-firepolice-firespringfieldTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:27:00 UTC2015-03-03T18:58:05ZNO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire at 873 Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire at 873 Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire at 873 Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEPatrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.comSpringfield firefighters and police at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEGreg Saulmon | gsaulmon@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEGreg Saulmon | gsaulmon@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEGreg Saulmon | gsaulmon@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEGreg Saulmon | gsaulmon@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEGreg Saulmon | gsaulmon@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters at the scene of a Worthington Street fire Tuesday morning, March 3, 2015. NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire at 873 Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comBystanders look on as Springfield firefighters work on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire at 873 Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.com Springfield firefighters working from an aerial ladder are surrounded by thick smoke which also blocks the sun during this fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield fire Lieutenant James Leger works from an aerial ladder during a fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters make their way over snow banks to get to the house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters pull hose over snow banks while fighting a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )NO VALUEMark M. Murray | mmurray@repub.comSpringfield firefighters on the scene of a house fire on Worthington Street Tuesday morning. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN )
The plan was greeted with caution by legislative leaders and a state employees union, who said they needed to learn more about the impact on state services and the long-term fiscal implications, particularly for the state's pension liability.

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker released a plan this week to trim the state workforce through early retirement incentives. The plan was greeted with caution by legislative leaders and a state employees union, who said they needed to learn more about the impact on state services and the long-term fiscal implications, particularly for the state's pension liability.

"Our view was the fairest way to go about dealing with a reduction in the state's workforce was through an early retirement program," Baker said Monday.

The buyout program is expected to cut the state workforce by 4,500 people, according to Dominick Ianno, chief of staff to Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore.

The voluntary incentive offer would apply to the approximately 14,000 state employees who are already eligible to retire, based on their age and years of service. The benefit would help state employees who have not yet worked enough years to get the maximum available pension benefit, which is 80 percent of their salary. Baker would offer those employees the chance to add up to five years of additional service into their pension calculations.

"This proposal offers the chance to retire earlier than expected and get a slightly increased pension payout," Ianno said.

The Baker administration wants to offer the buyouts in April and May in order to save money in the next fiscal year, which begins in July.

If 4,500 people retire, the state anticipates saving $178 million a year for each of the next three years.

That includes both the savings from a smaller workforce and the costs to the state's pension fund and to a group health insurance plan for retirees. It also allows the state to rehire people to fill up to 20 percent of those vacated state jobs, if they are positions that need to be filled.

The move does have a long-term cost. Ianno said it will increase the state's pension liability by an additional $48 million a year for the next 15 years. Ianno said the administration plans to fund the extra pension costs, and the savings from the smaller workforce will outweigh the costs. But the administration can only budget for one fiscal year at a time and cannot bind future administrations.

Ira Jackson, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Massachusetts' commissioner of revenue under former Gov. Michael Dukakis, a Democrat, said the program sounds similar to private sector buyouts.

"It's done regularly in the private sector to encourage downsizing and rightsizing of organizations," Jackson said. "It's voluntary, and I think it's a fairly effective tool."

At the end of fiscal year 2014, Massachusetts' state government employed 86,500 people, according to the state's annual financial report. If 4,500 people retire, state government would be the smallest it has been since 2006, the year former Democratic governor Deval Patrick took office.

If 20 percent of those people are rehired, state government would still be at its smallest level since 2007.

The last time state government offered a retirement incentive was in 2004, under former Republican governor Mitt Romney; 3,000 people took it. In 2002, under former Republican governor Jane Swift, 4,500 state employees took a retirement incentive.

Baker, a Republican, is proposing the plan in legislation, which must be approved by the state House and Senate.

In the line graph above, mouse over or click / tap on a point to reveal the data.

Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, both said they must hear more details before taking a position.

"At this time I haven't seen enough of the details to embrace or dismiss the Governor's proposal on early retirement," Rosenberg said in a statement. "I look forward to learning more once the legislation is filed, examining all aspects of the plan, and discussing it with the members of the Senate."

DeLeo, speaking to reporters Tuesday, said "the devil is in the details."

"There are early retirement plans that hopefully will have some long term savings, but you can have some early retirement plans that may be okay for one budget cycle and that's it," DeLeo said. "I like the former as opposed to the latter."

State Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, vice chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said early retirement incentives have been done previously to deal with fiscal challenges. He said state lawmakers must consider the financial benefits of reducing people on the higher end of the payroll, balanced by the pension costs and the difficulties faced by state agencies, a number of which are already understaffed. "We have to look at the big picture, see what the true savings will be, and if an early retirement incentive program allows state government to function efficiently and accountably to provide the services necessary," Kulik said.

David Holway, president of the National Association of Government Employees, also voiced concern about understaffing. Holway said the Department of Revenue, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Children and Families all need more staff already.

"Our concern is, are we going to be able to do the core functions of state government?" Holway said.

Still, Holway said if Baker wants to reduce the workforce, he thinks a voluntary buyout program is "a very humane way of doing it."

"It shows that the governor has a respect and an appreciation for long term employees who have worked under some adverse conditions over the years," Holway said. "It also saves some of the newer hires who are our future."

Baker declined to rule out layoffs if not enough people take the buyouts, but said given the history of prior incentive programs, "I'm pretty confident we'll end up being just fine." Lepore told The Boston Globe that she would have to lay people off if the voluntary retirements fall short.

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg declined to take a position on the proposal.

"I look forward to reviewing the details of the Governor's proposal, keeping in mind the impact it will have on our unfunded pension liability and potential effect on the state's bond rating," Goldberg said.

Baker is expected to face an estimated $1.5 billion gap between the amount of revenue the state will raise in 2016 and the amount of money needed to maintain current services. He will release his proposal for the fiscal year 2016 budget on Wednesday.

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http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/gov_charlie_baker_aims_to_trim.html
Shira Schoenberg | sschoenberg@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/gov_charlie_baker_aims_to_trim.htmlBeacon HillBostonBreaking News@boston@homepage@mobilebeacon-hillcharlie-bakerdominick-iannostate-budgetstate-governmentstephen-kulikTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:22:16 UTC2015-03-03T18:23:04ZNO VALUEStephanie Barry | sbarry@repub.comBOSTON - A watchdog commission on state salaries will hold a public hearing in Springfield. NO VALUEThe Associated PressThe Massachusetts State House in Boston.
The award honors Eric Collins, a 15-year-old West Springfield student who died in Feb. 2013. Collins was known for his commitment to social justice through activism with Generation Q, a peer-led LQTBQI support and educational group out of Greenfield.

A young equal rights activist who died in 2013 is being memorialized through a new scholarship that recognizes students who identify as LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) and those who support them.

The PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Franklin-Hampshire Chapter has announced the Eric Collins Memorial Award, a $250 stipend that will be awarded to one senior from Franklin County and another from Hampshire County.

The award honors Eric Collins, a 15-year-old West Springfield student who died in Feb. 2013. Collins was known for his commitment to social justice through activism with Generation Q, a peer-led LQTBQI support and educational group out of Greenfield.

To qualify, applicants must be graduating high school seniors in Franklin and Hampshire County, and self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or an ally - someone who supports LGBTQI individuals through community work.

The scholarship aims to to encourage continuing education for LGBTQI youth and to foster a positive image of LGBTQI people in society, The Hampshire Gazette reports.

Applications, which are available through high school guidance counselors or directly from the PFLAG Franklin - Hampshire Chapter, are due by April 1 and should be sent to PFLAGFHC@gmail.com.

In addition to the motor vehicle homicide charge, Zemtsova also faces two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol while causing serious injury in connection with injuries suffered by the girl's mother and her 8-year-old cousin.

Zemtsova allegedly struck three pedestrians crossing State Street by the Springfield Library.

A witness at a nearby bus stop told police he saw the victims walk to the middle of the westbound lane, slow down and then continue across the street when they were struck by Zemtsova.

Zemtsova, who was with her adult son in court, was arrested at the scene and police said she was driving 42 mph in a 30 mph zone before striking the pedestrians.

The girl who was killed is Destiny Gonzalez of Springfield.

Judge Richard J. Carey kept bail at the $10,000 amount set at Zemtsova's District Court arraignment, which she had posted.

The case is being prosecuted by Neil Desroches and Zemtsova is represented by Dale E. Bass.

Zemtsova must had no alcohol or drugs and have random screening, not drive a car and turn in her passport as conditions of probation.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/sandra_zemtsova_denied_motor_v.html
Buffy Spencer | bspencer@repub.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/sandra_zemtsova_denied_motor_v.htmlCrime@homepagecrimecrime-and-courtshampden-superior-courtmotor-vehicle-homicideneil-desrochesrichard-careysandra-zemtsovaTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:06:27 UTC2015-03-03T19:31:01ZNO VALUEBuffy Spencer | bspencer@repub.comSandra S. Zemtsova, 48, of West Springfield in Hampden Superior Court Tuesday, March 3, 2015, for arraignment on motor vehicle homicide charges related to a December 1, 2014 accident in front of the Springfield Public Library on State St.
A jury of 12 plus six alternates has been selected for the trial trial of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev

BOSTON -- A jury of 12 plus six alternates has been selected for the trial of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev.

Ten women and 8 men of varying ages were chosen to serve on the predominantly white jury out of a pool of 64.

The defense and prosecution spent much of the morning in silence filling out forms declaring who they wanted excluded from the jury.

Jurors are scheduled to return to Courtroom Nine at the Moakley Courthouse on Wednesday for the opening statements in the trial.

Tsarnaev is facing 30 charges stemming from events that occurred during the week of April 15, 2013 including the bombing of the Boston Marathon and the subsequent shootout in Watertown that resulted in the deaths of four people and injured over 200.

If convicted Tsarnaev could face the death penalty.

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http://www.masslive.com/news/boston/index.ssf/2015/03/jury_selected_in_trial_of_alle.html
Garrett Quinn | gquinn@masslive.com
]]>http://www.masslive.com/news/boston/index.ssf/2015/03/jury_selected_in_trial_of_alle.htmlBoston Marathon Bombing TrialBoston Marathon bombing trialBreaking News@homepage@mobilebostonboston-marathon-bombingdzhokhar-tsarnaev-trialdzhokhar-tsarnaezTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:00:43 UTC2015-03-03T18:01:25ZNO VALUELaura Merwin | lmerwin@masslive.comFILE - In this Jan. 5, 2015, file courtroom sketch, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, left, is depicted beside U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr., right, as O'Toole addresses a pool of potential jurors in a jury assembly room at the federal courthouse, in Boston. Lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tsarnaev have asked a judge three times to move his trial out of Massachusetts because of the emotional impact of the deadly attack. Three times, the judge has refused. On Thursday, Feb. 19, Tsarnaev's defense team will ask a federal appeals court to take the decision out of the hands of O'Toole Jr. and order him to move the trial. They insist that Tsarnaev cannot find a fair and impartial jury in Massachusetts because too many people believe he's guilty and many have personal connections to the marathon or the bombings. (AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins, File)
The ratio of female-to-male earnings in 2013 varied across the United States, ranging from 68.6 percent in Wyoming to 91.3 percent in Vermont where women earn a median of $745 a week compared with $816 for men.

BOSTON — Massachusetts women who worked full-time in 2013 earned a median weekly wage of $900, the highest median wage for women in the country.

But that $900 a week is only 81.2 percent of the $1,109 median weekly wage for males who worked full-time, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The ratio of 81.2 percent was the highest ratio since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started keeping the stat in 1997.

Local data for geography smaller than a state was not available, said Mark Maggi of the Bureau of Labor Statistics office in Boston. Data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly household survey.

More nuggets from the report:

Nationwide, women earned $706, or 82.1 percent of the $860 median for men in 2013.

Among the 50 states, Massachusetts ($900) had the highest median weekly earnings for women in full-time wage and salary positions, while Louisiana and Oklahoma ($591) had the lowest.

The ratio of female-to-male earnings in 2013 varied across the United States, ranging from 68.6 percent in Wyoming to 91.3 percent in Vermont, where women earn a median of $745 a week compared with $816 for men.

In neighboring Connecticut, women earned a median salary of $894, or 80.9 percent of the $1,106 median salary for men.

Race plays a role: Asian women earned more in 2013 than their counterparts of other races. Among women, Whites ($722) earned 88 percent as much as Asian women ($819), while Blacks ($606) and Hispanics ($541) earned 74 percent and 66 percent as much as their Asian counterparts, respectively.

Education matters: At each level of education, women have fared better than men with respect to earnings growth. Both women and men without a high school diploma have experienced declines in inflation-adjusted earnings since 1979 but the drop for women was much smaller than that for men. Earnings for women with a bachelor's degree or higher have increased by 32 percent since 1979, while those of their male counterparts have risen by 18 percent.

Women are more likely than men to work in professions. In 2013, 29 percent of women worked in professional and related occupations, compared with 19 percent of men.

Being a mom doesn't really hurt earning potential: In 2013, a little more than one-third of full-time wage and salary workers were parents of children under age 18 (36 percent of women and 37 percent of men), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among women, median weekly earnings for mothers of children under age 18 ($701) were essentially the same as earnings for women without children under 18 ($708).

Marriage matters: Married women with a spouse present earned a median of $768 a week. Unmarried women had a median income of $630. married men had a median income of $985 a week. Unmarried men had a median income of $687.